To consider an application for the grant of a Premises Licence in respect of Spill Bar, 29 Church Street, Caversham, Reading, RG4 8BA.

Under the 2003 Licencing Act, the Sub-Committee considered a report on an application for the grant of a Premises Licence in respect of Spill Bar, 29 Church Street, Caversham, Reading, RG4 8BA. The application had been submitted by Claire Anderton-Bell, Operation Director for Spill Bar Limited. A copy of the Premises Licence Application Form was attached to the report at Appendix LIC-1.

 

The report stated that the was currently no licence in force at the premises which occupied the former House of Cards retail unit located within St Martins Precinct. A location plan was attached to the report at Appendix LIC-6. The report stated that the application was for the grant of a Premises Licence to permit the following licensable activities:

 

Hours for the Sale by Retail of Alcohol (On and Off Sales):

 

Monday                   from 1200hrs until 2300hrs

Tuesday                  from 1200hrs until 2300hrs

Wednesday             from 1200hrs until 2300hrs

Thursday                 from 1200hrs until 2300hrs

Friday                     from 1200hrs until 2300hrs

Saturday                 from 1200hrs until 2300hrs

Sunday                   from 1200hrs until 2300hrs

 

Provision of Recorded Music:

 

Monday                   from 1200hrs until 2300hrs

Tuesday                  from 1200hrs until 2300hrs

Wednesday             from 1200hrs until 2300hrs

Thursday                 from 1200hrs until 2300hrs

Friday                     from 1200hrs until 2300hrs

Saturday                 from 1200hrs until 2300hrs

Sunday                   from 1200hrs until 2300hrs

 

Hours the Premises is Open to the Public:

 

Monday                   from 1100hrs until 2300hrs

Tuesday                  from 1100hrs until 2300hrs

Wednesday             from 1100hrs until 2300hrs

Thursday                 from 1100hrs until 2300hrs

Friday                     from 1100hrs until 2300hrs

Saturday                 from 1100hrs until 2300hrs

Sunday                   from 1100hrs until 2300hrs

 

The report explained that the applicant had also applied for a Late Night Refreshment but this was not required as the premises would not be open between 2300hrs and 0500hrs.

 

During the hearing the Applicant’s representative informed the Sub-Committee that the Applicant wished to remove the Provision of Recorded Music element from the application as it was not needed.

 

The report explained that licence conditions had been agreed between Thames Valley Police, the Council’s Licensing Team and the Applicant. A copy of the agreed conditions were attached to the report at Appendix LIC-2.

During the 28-day consultation period for the application representations against the application had been received by Reading Borough Council from the following Responsible Authorities:

 

·       Reading Borough Council’s Environmental Protection Team (representation attached at Appendix LIC-3)

·       Reading Borough Council’s Planning Team (representation attached at Appendix LIC-4)

 

During the consultation period a representation against the application had also been received from a local resident, a copy of which was attached to the report at Appendix LIC-5. Reading Borough Council’s Licensing Team had also submitted a representation, but the representation had subsequently been withdrawn after conditions were agreed with the Applicant.

 

The report stated that in determining the application the Licensing Authority had a duty to carry out its functions with a view to promoting the four licensing objectives, as follows:

 

·       The prevention of crime and disorder;

·       Public safety;

·       The prevention of public nuisance;

·       The protection of children from harm.

 

The report stated that any decision made in relation to the Premises Licence should be appropriate and proportionate with a view to promoting the licensing objectives. The Licensing Authority could amend, alter, or refuse an application should it be deemed appropriate for the promotion of the licensing objectives. The report stated that, when determining the application, the Licensing Authority must also have regard to the representations received, the Licensing Authority’s Statement of Licensing Policy and any relevant section of the statutory guidance issued to licensing authorities by the Secretary of State.

 

The report set out paragraphs 1.1 to 1.6, 2.1 to 2.3, 2.5 to 2.15, 2.23, 3.1, 3.2, 5.6, 5.7, 6.1, 6.2, 6.5, 6.24, 6.25, 7.2, 7.3, 7.6, 8.6, 10.1 and 10.3 from the Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy. The report also set out paragraphs 1.2 to 1.5, 2.1, 2.2, 2.7, 9.12, 9.13, 9.38, 9.39, 9.42 and 9.43 from the Secretary of State’s Guidance to the Licensing Act 2003 issued in December 2023.

 

The Applicant's representative, Bill Donne, Silver Fox Consultants, attended the meeting, addressed the Sub-Committee on the application and answered questions.  The Applicant, Claire Anderton-Bell, Operations Director for Spill Bar Limited, also attended the meeting, accompanied by Amanda Adlem, both addressed the Sub-Committee and answered questions.

 

Peter Narancic, RBC Licensing Officer, attended the hearing, presented the report and addressed the Sub-Committee. Tabitha, RBC Shaw Licensing Officer, also attended the meeting and addressed the Sub-Committee.

 

There were no officers present at the meeting from the Council’s Environmental Protection Team and none from the Council’s Planning Team. The local resident objector did not attend the meeting.

 

In reaching their decision the Sub-Committee gave due consideration to the written evidence contained in the paperwork and the oral evidence presented at the meeting and to the relevant legislation and guidance; and the policies of Reading Borough Council.

 

Resolved –

 

(1)           That, after taking into consideration the Licensing Act 2003, the Secretary of State’s Guidance issued under section 182 of that Act and Reading Borough Council’s Statement of Licensing Policy and having considered the likely effect that granting the application would have on the promotion of the four Licensing Objectives:

 

·       the prevention of crime and disorder;

·      public safety;

·      the prevention of public nuisance; and

·      the protection of children from harm

 

and having considered:

 

·       the conditions agreed between Reading Borough Council’s Licensing Team, Thames Valley Police and the Applicant;

·       The written representations submitted by Reading Borough Council’s Environmental Protection Team and Reading Borough Council’s Planning Team;

·       The written representation submitted by a local resident; and

·       the oral representations made by the Applicant and their representative;

 

the Sub-Committee agreed to grant the Premises Licence, to allow the following licensable activities:

 

Hours for the Sale by Retail of Alcohol (On and Off Sales):

 

Monday                   from 1200hrs until 2300hrs

Tuesday                  from 1200hrs until 2300hrs

Wednesday             from 1200hrs until 2300hrs

Thursday                 from 1200hrs until 2300hrs

Friday                      from 1200hrs until 2300hrs

Saturday                 from 1200hrs until 2300hrs

Sunday                   from 1200hrs until 2300hrs

 

Hours the Premises is Open to the Public:

 

Monday                   from 1100hrs until 2300hrs

Tuesday                  from 1100hrs until 2300hrs

Wednesday             from 1100hrs until 2300hrs

Thursday                 from 1100hrs until 2300hrs

Friday                      from 1100hrs until 2300hrs

Saturday                 from 1100hrs until 2300hrs

Sunday                   from 1100hrs until 2300hrs

 

subject to the conditions that had been agreed between Reading Borough Council, Thames Valley Police and the Applicant as set out in Appendix LIC-2 to the report.